The All Progressives Congress (APC) continues to contend with a ‘leadership tussle’ in the build- up to the 2015 general election.
According to Nigerian Tribune sources, the forces of former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Tinubu and former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari are pitted against the progressive governors and the forces of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar who was actually wooed into being part of the build-up to the 2015 general elections.
It was gathered that the last National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party held on May 23 encouraged further division in the party as the camp of Senator Tinubu and that of General Buhari, according to sources, were jolted by the outcome of the NEC, which sidelined their preferred chairman for the National Convention committee, Alhaji Kawu Baraje.
Buhari and Tinubu were said to have given indication that Baraje is the choice for the chairman of the convention, but a plot by the governors saw to the emergence of Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto, which is now said to be the source of tension that is building in the party.
Another source told Nigerian Tribune that loyalists of Buhari and Tinubu have described the decision of the governors as a plot against the founding fathers and a scheme to hijack the party through the back door.
“The Buhari and Tinubu camps are angry that the governors are trying to play the type of game they played in the PDP by moving against the interests of the founding fathers,” a source said.
The two camps of the APC leaders, which hitherto have led opinions are however said to be insisting on retaining the presidential ticket notwithstanding the antics of the governors.
The Atiku camp is fast staking a claim to decision making status as they are said to be standing by the corner to see through the emergence of Chief Tom Ikimi as the National Chairman of the APC, an outcome sources say Atiku believes would guarantee him a presidential ticket.
A source however said that the two party leaders have actually kept silent to give the governors the opportunity to save the party, noting that the governors risk total collapse of the party if they attempt to undo the presidential ambition of Tinubu and Buhari.
The duo of Tinubu and Buhari were said to have wanted to protest the outcome of the last NEC but decided to give the governors another chance.
“Anything that will threaten the interest of General Buhari and that of Senator Tinubu is actually aimed at the jugular of the APC and we hope the governors will not allow that to happen,” a source said. [Nigerian Tribune]
